Japan's PM Shinzo Abe says his country cannot tolerate a nuclear-armed North Korea and wants closer international co-operation to stop such an outcome. In a BBC interview, Mr Abe also defended his plans for Japan to develop a more assertive foreign policy. He made clear he believes North Korea poses a very grave threat to the world. Mr Abe begins a trip to Europe in London where he is due to hold discussions with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "If the North Koreans are to possess nuclear weapons that may lead to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," he said. "That could fundamentally undermine the non-proliferation regime, which may then lead to more problems regarding Iran for example." Mr Abe's visit to Europe is an opportunity for a prime minister who is just a few months into the job to start to build closer relationships with Western leaders. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk

The federal government will distribute $445 million to U.S. cities to help protect ports, subways, rails and other infrastructure from possible terrorist attacks.Nearly half the grant money, $201 million, would be used to secure ports and subway systems, including Amtrak. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey would get the biggest share of those funds, $27.2 million. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was announcing the grants Tuesday. The funding was summarized in a report obtained by The Associated Press ahead of Chertoff's announcement. The New Orleans region, devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, will get $17.3 million, followed by $15.7 million for the Houston area. DHS set aside $172 million to protect the nation's transit systems, with New York City and northern New Jersey getting the largest cut of $61 million. Washington, D.C. and the Baltimore area will get $18.5 million, the Boston area $15.3 million, followed by the San Francisco Bay area ...http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-01-09-securitygrants_x.htm?csp=34

Duke University President Richard Brodhead defended his decision to readmit two lacrosse players accused of sexual assault in a letter Monday that also harshly criticized the lead prosecutor in the case.And, with classes for the spring semester set to resume on Wednesday, Brodhead called for civil debate about the issues of race and class that arose after the accuser in the case alleged in March she had been raped at a lacrosse team party.All but one of the players on last year's lacrosse team was white. The accuser is black."We must work together to restore the fabric of mutual respect," Brodhead said in a letter addressed to the "Duke Community." "One of the things I have most regretted is the way students and faculty have felt themselves disparaged and their views caricatured in ongoing debates."...http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,242536,00.html

Communities across southeastern Brazil have declared a state of emergency as torrential rain continues to cause extensive damage in the region. At least 50 people are reported to have died, more than half of them in the state of Rio de Janeiro, since the beginning of the year. Tens of thousands have been left homeless by floods and landslides. Southeast Brazil has experienced almost continuous heavy downpours and thunderstorms since the new year. The worst affected areas have been the mountainous state of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro on the coast, where 29 people have reportedly been killed in the past week. Many of the deaths have been caused by mudslides and the collapse of poorly-built homes on the steep hillsides. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6241871.stm

Thirty-two people were killed when a plane carrying Turkish workers crashed north of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Turkish officials said. The plane, an Antonov-26 aircraft, was travelling from the province of Adana in southern Turkey to Iraq. Thirty construction workers and five crew members were on board the plane, a Turkish official said. The condition of the other three people was not known. Reports said the plane crashed while trying to land in foggy conditions. The plane went down near Balad, 80km (50 miles) north of Baghdad. Balad is the main US military transport hub in Iraq. The plane was owned by Moldova's Aerian Tur Airlines and the workers were from Turkish construction company Kulak, officials said. Many Turks are employed in Iraq, some of them on US military bases. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6245039.stm

Chinese authorities have forcibly shut a school in Shanghai for 2,000 children of poor migrants, sparking clashes with parents and teachers, it is reported. About 300 government officials and police interrupted classes and ordered pupils onto buses at Jianying Hope School in the Putuo district on Friday. The fracas occurred on Monday after parents returned to demand the children be allowed to finish their school term. The pupils were mainly children of migrant workers from Anhui province. The Xinan Evening News, a newspaper published in Anhui province, said police dispersed the crowd, beating and pushing people, although no arrests or serious injuries were reported. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6243997.stm